Races & Candidates
Race
Governor of California
Vote for One
Race
Lieutenant Governor of California
Vote for One
Race
Secretary of State of California
Vote for One
✓
Donald P. (Don) Wagner
Republican
Orange County Supervisor and former state assemblymember (ballot designation: Orange County Supervisor).
✓ Endorsed
🌐 Website
✓
Shirley N. Weber
Democratic
★ Incumbent
Incumbent California Secretary of State (ballot designation: California Secretary of State).
🌐 Website
Race
California State Controller
Vote for One
Race
California State Treasurer
Vote for One
Race
Attorney General of California
Vote for One
✓
Michael E. Gates
Republican
Longtime Orange County District Attorney, now a Deputy United States Attorney (ballot designation: Deputy United States … more
✓ Endorsed
🌐 Website
✓
Rob Bonta
Democratic
★ Incumbent
Incumbent California Attorney General (ballot designation: California Attorney General).
🌐 Website
Race
California Insurance Commissioner
Vote for One
Race
Superintendent of Public Instruction
Vote for One
✓
Sonja Shaw
Non-Partisan
School district governing board president (ballot designation: School District President).
✓ Endorsed
🌐 Website
Race
Board of Equalization Member, District 4
Vote for One
Measure
Proposition 1: Authorizes Bonds for Housing Affordability Programs (Veteran…
Statewide Ballot Measure
1
Authorizes Bonds for Housing Affordability Programs (Veterans and Affordable Housing Bond Act of 2026, SB 417). Legislative Statute.
Authorizes $11.25 billion in general obligation bonds — $10 billion for affordable rental and homeownership programs (multifamily housing, CalHome, farmworker housing, student and tribal housing, infrastructure) and $1.25 billion for veterans' farm, home, and mobilehome purchase assistance loans.
💰 Fiscal Impact: State General Fund cost of about $500–600 million annually for roughly 25 years to repay the $10 billion housing bond; no direct state cost for the $1.25 billion veterans' portion (repaid by veterans' loan payments).
Our Recommendation:
✗ Vote NO
Measure
Proposition 2: Increases State's Rainy Day Fund (Save for California's Futu…
Statewide Ballot Measure
2
Increases State's Rainy Day Fund (Save for California's Future Act, ACA 20). Legislative Constitutional Amendment.
Requires continued deposits into the Budget Stabilization Account (rainy day fund) until it reaches 20% of General Fund tax revenues (up from 10%), extends required extra debt payments for pension/retiree health liabilities and federal unemployment-insurance loan repayment through 2040, and adjusts what counts toward the state spending limit.
💰 Fiscal Impact: No direct fiscal impact figure; budget reserves would be higher over time and the state might make more debt payments through 2040, modestly easing budget balancing in downturns.
Our Recommendation:
✗ Vote NO
Measure
Proposition 3: Provides Permanent Funding for Schools and Health Care by Ex…
Statewide Ballot Measure
3
Provides Permanent Funding for Schools and Health Care by Extending Existing Tax on High Incomes. Initiative Constitutional Amendment.
Makes permanent the 2012 voter-approved income tax surcharge on high earners (over roughly $360K single / $721K joint, inflation-adjusted) that is set to expire in 2031, allocating revenues 89% to K–12 schools and 11% to community colleges, with local school boards deciding spending (administrative costs barred).
💰 Fiscal Impact: Maintains $5 billion to $15 billion of annual state income taxes (in today's dollars) by making the tax permanent instead of letting it expire in 2031.
Our Recommendation:
✗ Vote NO
Measure
Proposition 4: Repeals Prohibition Against Public Funding of Election Campa…
Statewide Ballot Measure
4
Repeals Prohibition Against Public Funding of Election Campaigns (California Fair Elections Act of 2026, SB 42). Legislative Statute.
Removes the Political Reform Act ban on public funds for campaigns; allows state and local public financing systems if candidates voluntarily accept expenditure limits and qualify under strict criteria, bars public funds for legal defense, fines, or repaying personal loans, and increases fines for foreign-influence violations.
Our Recommendation:
✗ Vote NO
Measure
Proposition 5: Changes Recall Election Process for Statewide Officers (SCA …
Statewide Ballot Measure
5
Changes Recall Election Process for Statewide Officers (SCA 1, Newman). Legislative Constitutional Amendment.
Eliminates the successor election in statewide recall votes — if an officer is recalled, the office becomes vacant and is filled per constitutional/statutory succession (Lieutenant Governor becomes Governor); the recalled officer could run in the resulting special election but not be appointed.
Our Recommendation:
✗ Vote NO
Measure
Proposition 37: Creates Loan Program for Middle-Income Buyers of Qualified N…
Statewide Ballot Measure
37
Creates Loan Program for Middle-Income Buyers of Qualified New Homes. Initiative Statute.
Authorizes up to $25 billion in bonds to offer eligible middle-income buyers (under 200% of area median income, 3% down, in-state one year) fixed-rate mortgages covering up to 17% of the purchase price of qualifying new homes (under ~$1M–$1.5M depending on county), repaid by homeowners' mortgage payments rather than the state.
💰 Fiscal Impact: No direct state or local costs.
Our Recommendation:
✗ Vote NO
Measure
Proposition 38: Authorizes Bonds for Immunology Medical Research. Initiative…
Statewide Ballot Measure
38
Authorizes Bonds for Immunology Medical Research. Initiative Statute.
Authorizes $8.4 billion in general obligation bonds for immunology/immotherapy research, split between a UC-affiliated nonprofit institute and grants to public/nonprofit institutions; half must fund cancer, heart disease, and Alzheimer's research, and resulting drugs/technologies must be sold in California at 20% below national average price.
💰 Fiscal Impact: Increased state costs of about $500 million annually for 25 years to repay the bonds; possible partial or full offset in later decades if funded research generates revenue.
Our Recommendation:
✗ Vote NO
Measure
Proposition 39: Establishes Additional Voter Identification and Citizenship …
Statewide Ballot Measure
39
Establishes Additional Voter Identification and Citizenship Verification Requirements. Initiative Constitutional Amendment.
Amends the constitution to require voters to present government-issued ID at the polls (or the last four digits of a government ID number when voting by mail), require the state to provide voter ID cards on request, and require annual reporting of the share of each county's voters whose citizenship has been verified.
💰 Fiscal Impact: One-time state and local costs in the tens of millions of dollars to implement; increased annual state and local costs potentially ranging from the tens of millions to the low hundreds of millions of dollars for elections administration.
Our Recommendation:
✓ Vote YES
Measure
Proposition 40: Imposes One-Time Tax on Certain Taxpayers (billionaire wealt…
Statewide Ballot Measure
40
Imposes One-Time Tax on Certain Taxpayers (billionaire wealth tax). Initiative Constitutional Amendment and Statute.
Imposes a one-time tax of up to 5% on individuals and trusts with covered assets over $1 billion (businesses, securities, art, collectibles, IP — excluding real property and most retirement accounts); allocates 90% of revenue to health care and 10% to food assistance/education programs.
💰 Fiscal Impact: Temporary state revenue increase from the billionaire wealth tax, probably up to tens of billions of dollars spread over several years; likely ongoing decrease in state income tax revenues of hundreds of millions of dollars or more per year.
Our Recommendation:
✗ Vote NO
Measure
Proposition 41: Prohibits New State Taxes That Exclude Revenues from State S…
Statewide Ballot Measure
41
Prohibits New State Taxes That Exclude Revenues from State Spending Limit; Requires Audits for New State Special Taxes. Initiative Constitutional Amendment.
Requires a pre-election audit of programs that would be funded by special-tax initiatives and recurring audits of programs funded by special taxes enacted after January 1, 2026, and prohibits new state taxes whose revenues are excluded from the voter-approved state spending limit (including taxes on the same ballot).
💰 Fiscal Impact: Unknown net fiscal effect; depends on how many tax initiatives trigger audits, added voter-guide costs, and savings identified through audits.
Our Recommendation:
✓ Vote YES
Measure
Proposition 42: Prohibits New State Personal Property Taxes and Certain Retr…
Statewide Ballot Measure
42
Prohibits New State Personal Property Taxes and Certain Retroactive State Taxes. Initiative Constitutional Amendment.
Prohibits new state taxes on ownership or control of personal property (retirement accounts, financial/investment assets, business interests, intellectual property) and new state taxes applied retroactively to pre-enactment conduct or status, applying to taxes enacted or effective on or after January 1, 2026, including those on the same ballot.
💰 Fiscal Impact: Possibility that tax revenues will be lower in the future.
Our Recommendation:
✓ Vote YES
Measure
Proposition 43: Limits Voters' Ability to Raise Revenues for Local Governmen…
Statewide Ballot Measure
43
Limits Voters' Ability to Raise Revenues for Local Government Services (Local taxes: limitation, ACA 22, Wicks). Legislative Constitutional Amendment.
Beginning January 1, 2027, requires any local special tax — including one enacted by voter initiative — to be approved by a two-thirds vote, and bars local ad valorem taxes on real property, overruling the California Supreme Court's decision allowing voter-initiative taxes to bypass the two-thirds rule.
Our Recommendation:
✓ Vote YES
Measure
Proposition 44: Requires Community Health Clinics Spend 90% of Revenue on Pr…
Statewide Ballot Measure
44
Requires Community Health Clinics Spend 90% of Revenue on Program Services. Initiative Statute.
Requires nonprofit Federally Qualified Health Centers to spend at least 90% of revenue on program services (e.g., patient care) rather than management and overhead, allows the Department of Public Health to waive the requirement in exceptional circumstances, and imposes monetary penalties (and criminal charges for false reports or gaming the ratio).
💰 Fiscal Impact: State cost of up to the low tens of millions of dollars annually to enforce the requirement, much of which would be covered by fees and penalties on affected clinics.
Our Recommendation:
✗ Vote NO
Measure
Proposition 45: Modifies Environmental Review for Certain Projects. Initiati…
Statewide Ballot Measure
45
Modifies Environmental Review for Certain Projects. Initiative Statute.
Amends CEQA to expedite environmental review of most housing, transportation, water, health, and clean energy projects by setting agency deadlines, allowing expedited review with limits on considering project alternatives, and restricting litigation (filing deadlines, limits on evidence and court-ordered relief).
💰 Fiscal Impact: State and local implementation costs in the tens of millions of dollars annually for the first several years; long-term likely net savings from reduced administrative and legal workload, with trial-court effects ranging from tens-of-millions annual savings to low-tens-of-millions annual costs.
Our Recommendation:
✓ Vote YES
Race
United States Representative, 42nd District
Vote for One — Seal Beach is in the new 42nd District (2025 Prop 50 redraw)
✓
Brian Burley
Republican
Huntington Beach City School District trustee; advanced past Noah Blom and Long Pham in the June primary.
✓ Endorsed
Race
State Senate, 36th District
Vote for One — covers Seal Beach and coastal Orange County
✓
Tony Strickland
Republican
★ Incumbent
Incumbent state senator for the 36th District — won the March 2025 special election after Janet Nguyen joined the County … more
✓ Endorsed
🌐 Website
✓
Chris Duncan
Democratic
San Clemente councilman and consumer-protection attorney (ballot designation: Anti-Tariff Attorney); 2024 general-electi … more
Race
State Assembly, 70th District
Vote for One — portions of Seal Beach (east/Central Seal Beach precincts)
✓
Tri Ta
Republican
★ Incumbent
Incumbent assemblymember for the 70th District (first elected 2012); former Westminster city councilman.
✓ Endorsed
✓
Paula Swift
Democratic
Small business owner (ballot designation); Democratic challenger for the 70th District.
Race
State Assembly, 72nd District
Vote for One — open seat; portions of Seal Beach (coastal precincts)
✓
Gracey Van Der Mark
Republican
Huntington Beach city councilwoman (ballot designation: Councilwoman/Business Owner); open seat with Diane Dixon not see … more
✓ Endorsed
✓
Chris Kluwe
Democratic
Former NFL punter (UCLA, Minnesota Vikings), author and community activist (ballot designation: Businessman/Coach/Father … more
Race
Seal Beach City Council, District 1
Vote for One — 4-year term (District 1, Old Town/bridge district)
✓
Matthew Terry
Nonpartisan
Architect (Old Town resident, 341 13th St.) focused on technology-driven efficiency and city performance audits; support … more
✓ Endorsed
🌐 Website
✓
Perla Mendoza
Nonpartisan
CEO/nonprofit boardmember (ballot designation); ran for Los Alamitos USD Area 5 board in 2024; priorities include Old To … more
🌐 Website
✓
Scott Davis
Nonpartisan
Real estate entrepreneur; SUSPENDED campaign Aug 28, 2026 and is not seeking office, but his name remains on the finaliz … more
Race
Seal Beach City Council, District 3
No contest — incumbent appointed in lieu of election
✓
Lisa Landau
Nonpartisan
★ Incumbent
District 3 council member since 2023; 2025 Mayor Pro Tem and current 2026 Mayor. Sole qualified nominee — the District 3 … more
Race
Seal Beach City Council, District 5
No contest — incumbent appointed in lieu of election
✓
Nathan Steele
Nonpartisan
★ Incumbent
District 5 (Leisure World) council member since 2023; 2025 Mayor Pro Tem. Sole qualified nominee — appointed to a new 4- … more
Race
Coast Community College District, Trustee Area 1
Vote for One — covers Seal Beach, Huntington Beach, Newport Beach, Costa Mesa
✓
Austin J. Edsell
Nonpartisan
Republican-endorsed candidate; background in education access and workforce programs.
✓
Joe Kalmick
Nonpartisan
Term-limited Seal Beach City Council member (District 1, former mayor); long record in Seal Beach civic life.
✓
Ashton Kauwe
Nonpartisan
Office administrator; ran unopposed through the extended filing period for Area 1.
Race
Surfside Colony Community Services District
Vote for up to 4 — board of directors. Candidates per OC Registrar final list; serves Surfside Colony (security, streets, parks).
✓
See ballot — see note
Nonpartisan
Four of five director seats on the Nov 3, 2026 ballot (filing extended to Aug 12). Current board: Tara Amundson, Gayle M … more
Race
Surfside Colony Storm Water Protection District
Vote for up to 2 — trustees (soil erosion and storm water control, Surfside Colony)
✓
See ballot — see note
Nonpartisan
Two trustee seats on the Nov 3, 2026 ballot. District controls soil erosion and storm water in Surfside Colony.
Race
Sunset Beach Sanitary District
Vote for 1 — director (sewer and refuse service, Sunset Beach and Surfside Colony)
✓
See ballot — see note
Nonpartisan
One director seat on the Nov 3, 2026 ballot. Provides sewer and refuse service to Sunset Beach and Surfside Colony (~1,5 … more
Voting Information
📝 Voter Registration
Make sure you are registered to vote in Orange County. Check your registration status at ocvote.gov/registration
✉️ Vote by Mail
All registered Orange County voters will automatically receive a vote-by-mail ballot. Return by mail (postmarked by Election Day) or drop it off at any ballot drop box in Orange County.
🏛️ Orange County Registrar
Address: 1300 S Grand Ave, Building C, Santa Ana, CA 92705Phone: (714) 567-7600
Website: ocvote.gov
Polling Places & Drop Boxes
Loading map…
-
City of Seal Beach Fire Station 48 Vote Center3131 N. Gate Rd, Seal Beach, CA 90740
-
Seal Beach Senior Center Vote Center707 Electric Avenue, Seal Beach, CA 90740